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Example 2: chicken fence
Algebraic solution – short and long version
NOTE: You need TI-NspireTM CAS for this approach.
The algebraic solution requires some previous mathematical knowledge (conditions for
extreme values: side condition)
Open a new document and add an application Calculator. Type the different steps and finish
your input with · each time.
The following variables are introduced: l (length of side opposite the wall) and h (length of the
remaining sides of the enclosure)
In the first line the side condition l + 2h =10 is solved to l = 10 – 2h. This is an easy
calculation which can also be applied to more complex terms in other extreme value
problems. The next line establishes the connection between l and h, which used in the third
line to calculate the area by using the product of l and h. Now the variable l is replaced by the
previous connection of variables. With nfMax(.) the maximum area is calculated dependent
on h. The resulting solution gives h = 2,5 which then is inserted for h to calculate the
maximum area.